Education Support Services

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Hennepin County’s Education Support Services provides support and resources to County-connected youth negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program strives to address the racial and educational disparities faced by youth who receive county services, counterbalance the negative impacts of remote schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and address the academic achievement gap of County-connected youth. Educational Support Specialists provide support and resources to youth who receive county services with a focus on student empowerment, skill building, and collaboration with families, schools, and support professionals. The program strives to increase engagement, academic skills, and educational outcomes for students in grades K-12, who are disproportionately youth of color. Services include referrals to academic tutoring, advocacy around special education plans and services, access to internet and personal computers, and support of individualized student goals around education success. Although participating students face significant barriers to academic success, the program helps them thrive. Since September 2020, Education Support Services has served 238 students. Of the students engaged in academic tutoring, almost all have achieved higher scores on initial reassessments in math and reading, improved their grades, significantly reduced their number of missing school assignments, and had more positive attitudes towards school.